A history of Jefferson County in the state of New York : from the earliest period to the present time

Front matter

m ^ iV

O

HISTORY

Preface

Sixty years ago, the territory now embraced in the wealthy and populous County of Jefferson, was an unexplored wilderness, and so little was known of its geography, that in a statistical work of that period,* Black River is said to rise "in the high country near the sources of Canada Creek, which foils into the Mohawk River, and takes its course north west, and then north east, until it discharges itself into the Cataraqui or Iroquois River, not for from Swegauchee; it is said to be navigable for bateaux up to the lower falls, sixty miles, which is distant from the flourishing settlement of Whitestown twenty-five miles." On none of the early French or English maps is this important stream represented. The period embraced in the following pages, is therefore mostly within the memory of those still living.

The important duty of preserving local history, and recording the minor events that attend the origin of institutions and communities, is too often neglected until a period when truth becomes blended with fable, and the original materials one by one disappearing, leave the analysis of events involved in an impenetrable mist of conflicting traditions. In collecting the materials for this work, original sources of information have been sought, where these could be reached, always prefering to rely upon written or published statements, rather than unaided memory. In the course of these inquiries, the records of the county, and the several towns; of religious and other societies; the files of local papers, and the correspondence of prominent public citizens, the records and documents of land offices, and the archives of the state at Albany, have been consulted. Every town and village has been visited by the author, and personal interviews obtained with great numbers of prominent citizens and pioneers. The relative value to be attached to these several sources of information, has been carefully examined, with the earnest desire to arrive at a correct knowledge of the varied subjects that make up the following volume. While sectional, political, or personal interests have been carefully avoided, it has been our highest ambition

* Winterbotham's View of the American United States, 1796j vol ii, p. 3011.

4 Preface.

to give prominence to every department of industry that constitutes the present wealth, and promises the future welfare of the county. That errors may have occurred in so great a number of names and dates as are here given, is probable. The indulgence of the reader is solicited, in marking such as had been observed in the subsequent reading of the proofs, and which are noted at the close of the volume.

Our acknowledgments are tendered to the serveral editors of the Jeffersonian, New York Reformer, Democratic Union, Northern State Journal, Jefferson Democrat, and Jefferson Farmer, for the uniform kindness which has heen evinced in calling public attention to these inquiries. To the Hon. Win, C. Pierrepont, Elijah B. Allen, and Win. T. Searles, for traveling facilities in collecting these data, and to the above named gentlemen, and the following citizens of the county, for essential aid in furnishing materials for the work, viz: To Messrs. J. Mullin, R. Lansing, T. C. Chittenden, J. F. Starbuck, J. Clarke, Win. Smith, O. V. Brainard, S. and E. S. Massey, J. C. Sterling, J. Fairbanks, P. G. Keyes, L. Paddock, J. L. Marsh, County Clerk; Alvin Hunt, Daniel Lee, Clark Rice, Drs. A. Trowbridge and R. Goodall, and the Rev. Messrs. J. Bray ton, G. M. Hill, P. Snyder, J. H. Stewart and J. S. Holme, of Watertown; Col. E. Camp, Rev. L. A. Sawyer, Rev. J. Burchard, Messrs. T. S. Hall, E. Fields, E. M. Luff, Capt. A. Ford, Capt. Wm. Vaughan and Capt. S. McNitt, of Sackets Harbor; Dr. F. A. Knapp, of Smithville; E. Burnham, Dr. L. Barney and Rev. P. Morse, of Henderson; J. R. Bates, of Ellis Village; J. D. Houghton, S. Hackley, D. Ellis, C. Littlefield and W. L. Cook, of Belleville; D. Wardvvell, of Mannsville; S. D. Hungerford, W. Benton and Rev. P. C. Headley, of Adams; Rev. D. Spear, of Rodman; M. Eames, C. Hopkins, Dr. C. P. Kemball and J. Felt, of Rutland ; N. Hubbard and A. Lathrop, of Champion; P. S. Stewart, Dr. E. West and T. S. Hammond, of Carthage; Wm. McAllaster and Rev. C. B. Pond, . of Antwerp; R. Ormiston, Jr., of Ox Bow; Wm. Fayel, of Theresa; J. Clark, of Plessis; E. G. Merrick and Rev. J. P. Jennings, of Clayton; J. N. Rottiers, of Orleans; S. D. Sloan, of Evans' Mills; O. Child, of Philadelphia; J. B. Kitby, J. E. Brown, Wm. Lord, G. Brown, Col. J. Bradley, Rev. G. B. Eastman and Rev. S. Holmes, of Brownville: C. V. R. Horton and Wm. Dewey, of Lyme; and John B. Esselstyn, of Cape Vincent. To Dr. T. Ivomeyn Beck, of Albany, are we indebted for the use of the several cuts of fossils, and to H. E. Pierrepont, of Brooklyn, I. H. Bronson, of Palatka, Fl., S. A. Abbey, of Cleveland, O.; A. Morton, of Monroe , Mich.; D. Merritt of Salem, Mass.; and J. H. Lord of Oswego, for interesting communications, and to I. W. Bostwick, of Lowville, for access to the

land papers of the Low Purchase.

FRANKLIN B. HOUGH.

Albany, January 12th, 1864.

Chapter I. Aboriginal Tracks, French History

Ambiguity of relics left of ancient occupation— Traces less ancient than those of the west — The several traces described — Bone pits — Metallic relics — Aboriginal names — The Iroquois dominion — Negotiations of the Dutch English and French — De La Barrels incursion and defeat by sickness — Talented speech of Garangula, the Onondaga orator — French work on Six Town Point — Post at mouth of Sandy Creek — Carlton Island — Its history and description 9

Chapter II. Organization Of The County, Public Buildings, &c

Current of immigration — Previous divisions of counties — Division of Oneida County and strong local interests — Convention at Denmark — Origin of name — Act erecting Jefferson and Lewis Counties — Boundaries changed — County Buildings located — Proceedings of Supervisors — Jail limits — Court house burnt and rebuilt — Maintenance of prisoners — Poor house built and site changed — Poor house system — Health law expenses — Bounties for noxious animals — Courts — Convivial excesses of first Court — Supervisors meetings, 25

Chapter III. History Of Land Titles

Primitive Indian titles — Oneida treaty — Land Commissioners — Macomb's purchase — Penet's title — French purchase — Constable's sales — Scheme of a French Colony occasioned by political troubles — Articles of Association — Agency of Tillier — Surveys and incidents connected therewith — Death of Pharoux — Letter describing French settlement from the work of Hector St. John de Crevecoeur — Agency of Morris — Antwerp company — Sales by Le Ray — Bonaparte's purchase — Bolyston's and Black River tracts — Title of the Islands, 38

Chapter IV. Towns Of Jefferson County

List of, with dates of organization — Original names — History of each town in alphabetical order — supervisors — Early settlers — Incidents — Religious Societies, £c, of each, 69

Chapter V. Internal Improvements

First movement by Steuben — Road opened by Tillier — Oswegatchie road — Letters of Judge Ford — Lotteries — Legislative acts — State roads — Turnpikes — Plank roads — Rail roads — Telegraphs — Black River canal — Origin of Steam Navigation — List of steam boats — Steam boat companies, . . . 307

Contents.

Chapter VI. Statistics Of Population And Resources

Statistics of population — Agricultural, manufacturing, and commercial resources, from the several censuses — Nativity of citizens — Pensioners — Post routes and post offices, 357

Chapter VII. Lists Of Tublic Officers

Congressional districts — Members of Congress — Assemblymen — Assembly districts — Clerks — Sheriffs — Surrogates — Treasurers — Circuit and county judges — Assistant justices — Justices of Sessions — District Attorneys — Coroners — Loan Commissioners — Votes at elections for governor, 3(35

Chapter VIII. The Periodical Press

Black River Gazette at Martinsburgh — Papers published at Watertown — at Sackets Harbor — at Adams — at Theresa — at Carthage, 372

Chapter IX. History Of Academies

Early movements towards founding — Watertown Academy — Black River Institute — Name changed to Jefferson County Institute — Union Literary Society — Orleans Academy — Brownville Female Seminary, 378

Chapter X. Societies And Associations

Religious Societies — Watertown Presbytery — Black River Association — Methodist Episcopal Associations — Black River Baptist Association — Free Communion Baptist yearly meeting — Black River Association (Universalis!) — Le Ray Monthly Meeting — Lutherans — Benevolent Societies', <S-c. — Bible — Sabbilh Union — Tempeiance — Educational — Aid to Greeks — Irish relief Medical Society — Agricultural Society — Town Agricultural Societies — Associations for Mutual Benefit — Masons — Odd Fellows — Sons of Temperance — Good Samaritans — Knights of Jericho — Jeff rson County Industr al Association, 390

Chapter XI. Banks Corpo Rations

Jefferson'County Bank— Sackets Harbor Bank — Associated Banks— Individual Banks — Insurance Companies, 415

Chapter XII. Biographical Notices

General remark* — Amos Benedict, Ethel Bronson, Jacob Brown, Peleg Burchard. I. B. Crawe, Timothy Dewey, Robert B. Doxtater. Dyer Huntington, OrvilleHun^erfonl. Perley Keyes, Edmund Kirby, Le Ray de Chaumont, Hart Massey, John Paddock, Hezekiah B. Pierrepont Augustus Sacke't, Micah Sterling, Egbert Ten Eyck, George White, Benjamin Wright, 419

Contents. 7

Chapter XIII. War With Great Britain. 1s12-1s15

Embargo — Smuggling — Seizures — Declaration of war — Attack on Sackets Harbor — Affair of Julia — Attack on Gananoqui — Cruise of Chauncey — Tale of Tom Garnet — Plans of attack discussed in Cabinet — Dearborn appointed commander-in-cbief — Descent upon York — Battle of Sackets Harbor — Privateering on the St. Lawrence — Exploits of Gregory, Vaughan and Dixon — Wilkinson's expedition — Battle of Sandy Creek — Naval armaments on the lake, . 458

Chapter XIV. Events Of 1s37-1840

Excitement from burning of the Caroline — Affair of Hickory Island — Burning of the Peel — Affair at Prescott — Sympathy forjprisoners — Release of Minors — Attempt to burn the Great Britain — Patriot Bank, 519

Chapter XV. Geology, Mineralogy, &c

Importance of classification — Primary rock — Potsdam sandstone — Calciferous sandstone — Birdseye, Black River, and Trenton limestones — Utica slate — Lorraine slate — General observations — Black River — Lake Ontario — Mineral localities — Meteorological table, 529